A Consequence of Opposing the Heroine’s Halo (GL) - Chapter 3

Standing in the large courtyard were two Daoists, a man and a woman, both possessing extraordinary celestial grace. They wore simple white Daoist robes. The woman had ruby lips and bright eyes, her hair tied high in a crown; she was Chu Danxue, the eldest disciple of the Fire Spirit Peak of the Hegui Sect. Her skin was as fair as snow, and the cinnabar mole between her brows was incredibly vivid, living up to her name (Danxue: Cinnabar Snow).

The man beside her was slightly less striking in appearance but carried himself with the elegance of polished jade and an otherworldly temperament. He was Jun Yining, a disciple of the Green Wood Peak.

The difference between having a spiritual root and not having one was essentially whether an individual’s meridians could accept spiritual qi. Meridians that could circulate qi were known as spiritual veins—the mark of a spiritual root possessor. Those that could not were considered non-possessors.

Bai Tong’s spiritual veins were completely shattered, with thousands of tiny cracks in nearly every inch. Whenever she absorbed even a sliver of qi, it would sear her wounds like fire and immediately leak out of the cracks. Cultivation was impossible.

When Chu Danxue tested the spiritual veins, she would guide a trace of qi into the subject. Those who showed pain or couldn’t endure it were filtered out. Everyone before Bai Tong had been dismissed, but Bai Tong made her hesitate.

Bai Tong accepted the qi easily, yet the qi vanished instantly—she clearly had a “Wasted Root.” If a person without spiritual roots could endure the pain of searing qi, they might still manage to cultivate, but how could someone with a “Wasted Root” possibly progress? Despite Bai Tong’s iron will and lack of outward pain, Chu Danxue wavered.

Jun Yining, testing nearby, also noticed the situation and let out a faint sigh. He sent a voice transmission to Chu Danxue: “I see this child has the grace of a celestial being; how can she have a Wasted Root?”

Chu Danxue frowned slightly: “Ancestor Hegui was of mediocre talent back in the day, yet did he not ascend? Do not speak recklessly.”

Jun Yining smiled: “Yes, yes, Senior Sister is right to lecture me. But do you mean to say this child was born to have a Wasted Root?”

“That is not what I mean. I am simply telling you that neither appearance nor initial aptitude dictates one’s future cultivation.”

Thinking of this, Chu Danxue seemed to have a sudden epiphany. She said to Bai Tong: “Though you have a Wasted Root, your character is superior. I shall take you back to the sect as an outer disciple. Your future opportunities will depend entirely on yourself. Are you willing?”

Bai Tong was naturally willing. Chu Danxue continued: “The path of cultivation looks glorious, but it is incredibly dangerous. Many become ghosts before even reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. Are you still willing?”

“I am willing!”

Chu Danxue pressed on: “You have a Wasted Root. Without a miraculous encounter, your cultivation will never progress an inch. Even so, are you willing?”

“I am willing!”

Three times she said “I am willing” without a moment’s hesitation. Chu Danxue was very satisfied. “Very well.”

With a flick of her hand, Chu Danxue manifested a shimmering golden crane totem seal. She placed it in Bai Tong’s hand. “This is a Soul Tool of the Hegui Sect. Keep it. From this day forth, you are a disciple of our Hegui Sect.”

As these words fell, not only were the villagers stunned, but even Jun Yining was shocked. He transmitted: “Senior Sister, what are you doing? Taking a Wasted Root into the sect? If Martial Uncle Lin Yuan finds out, he’ll think we’re just scrambling to finish the mission quotas. I don’t want to spend another ten years in the Ice-Fire Abyss.”

“I will take full responsibility. It has nothing to do with you,” Chu Danxue replied calmly.

Jun Yining found his senior sister increasingly difficult to read. “Fine. Since you’re taking the fall, I’ll stay out of it.” Internally, however, he grumbled: Is her head stuck in a doorframe? Risking so much for an irrelevant person.

Chu Danxue seemed to guess her junior brother’s internal criticism. She transmitted: “Yining, look closely. This, too, is my mental cultivation.”

Jun Yining looked and realized Chu Danxue’s cultivation boundary was actually loosening. He cursed inwardly: You monster! You’re about to break through again! Why did she get a breakthrough just by taking a disciple? Life was unfair.

The commoners, including Liu Sanye, couldn’t hear the private transmissions, but Liu Sanye had read the book! Not only did she know what was happening, but she also knew her “Ogress” mother was about to arrive.

Sure enough, a moment later, Widow Liu came rushing in dragging her silly son, looking ready to cause a scene.

As soon as Mother Liu arrived, she plopped down on the ground and wailed: “Immortal Masters! You are taking my daughter-in-law today—what will become of me and my son?!” She then turned to the silent Bai Tong: “My son saved you! For six months you ate my food and wore my clothes, and today you just leave? Where is your conscience?!”

Before Chu Danxue could speak, Bai Tong knelt before Liu Ercao. Ercao, being simple, saw her kneel and knelt as well, grinning foolishly.

Bai Tong possessed a maturity far beyond her years. She said: “Ercao saved my life, but I carry a blood feud and cannot stay. I beg Auntie Liu’s forgiveness. In the future, I will repay you manifold.”

Mother Liu was unmoved. “Repay? With what? By the time you come back, we’ll be dead of old age!”

Bai Tong said seriously: “Liu Ercao was born with extraordinary strength. If his idiocy is cured, he will have no trouble finding a wife. I know that in the Kunlun Mountains of the South, there is a sacred fruit called the Mandui. Eating it can grant enlightenment and wisdom. Give me three years, and I will bring it back to him with both hands.”

Mother Liu seemed tempted; her son’s condition was the thorn in her side. She hesitated: “Can you really cure my son’s illness?”

Bai Tong nodded.

“But what if you can’t find it?”

Chu Danxue stepped in to resolve the situation: “No disciple of the Hegui Sect breaks their word.” With the Immortal’s guarantee, Mother Liu felt much more at ease.

The surrounding villagers, however, had plenty to say.

“That tigress is usually a terror, but to be this bold in front of an Immortal…”

“No wonder she has a silly son and a dead husband.”

“That girl is a future Immortal. Does she think her stupid son is a match for her?”

“The crazy woman is a toad lusting after swan meat.”

When Liu Sanye had read the book, she only saw her mother’s rudeness; she hadn’t heard the villagers’ mockery. Realizing the difference between reality and the text, she felt a bit dazed. She watched as Mother Liu fawned over the Immortal: “With your guarantee, I am at peace.”

Mother Liu and her son kowtowed in thanks. Seeing her mother do it, the silly son followed suit. Once finished, she turned to Bai Tong: “You must come back in three years!”

“I definitely will.”

Though Mother Liu said she believed her, she still had doubts. Liu Sanye saw her opening. She stepped forward and said to her mother: “Mom, if you’re worried, why don’t I just go to the Hegui Sect with Bai Tong?”

Liu Sanye mentally patted herself on the back. In the original plot, her mother had refused to let her go, preferring she grow old in the village rather than seek immortality. The original Liu Sanye had hated her mother’s favoritism and severed ties on the spot. But Liu Sanye didn’t want such a blow to her reputation. Knowing her mother loved her son above all else, she knew this “monitoring” excuse would work.

Indeed, Mother Liu agreed immediately.

The other villagers, however, were in an uproar. Especially the boy Liu Sanye had hit with mud. He sneered: “You think just anyone can follow an Immortal?”

Liu Sanye wasn’t “just anyone.” As the story’s primary villainess, her aptitude was actually a top-tier Heavenly Spiritual Root! Otherwise, why would Chu Danxue have taken an unfilial daughter who abandoned her mother?

Thinking of this, Liu Sanye confidently stepped up for the test, ready for a “face-slapping” moment. Everyone waited to see her fail, not noticing she had blatantly cut the line.

In this world, aptitude and appearance were often proportional. Since she had a Heavenly Root, her looks were excellent. Both Chu Danxue and Jun Yining noticed her immediately.

Jun Yining, the shallowest member of Green Wood Peak, transmitted to Chu Danxue: “I see this girl has excellent bone structure. She’s just a bit tanned from the mortal world. After cleansing her marrow, she’ll be a beauty on par with you, Senior Sister.”

Chu Danxue ignored him and stepped toward Liu Sanye. “I shall test your root now. Relax and close your eyes.”

Liu Sanye obeyed. Chu Danxue channeled qi into her. Fearing to hurt her, she started with a tiny sliver. “Do you feel anything?”

Liu Sanye shook her head. “Nothing.”

Chu Danxue injected a second, much thicker strand. “Now?”

Still nothing. But Liu Sanye realized that if she followed the plot, she would be identified as the “Chosen One” of the prophecy, sent straight to the Sect Leader to be a personal disciple, and watched 24/7. The original character had turned into a villainess because she couldn’t handle the “fallen genius” trope once the heroine surpassed her.

Liu Sanye wasn’t going down that road. Plus, she had to stay close to the heroine to steal her luck!

So, feeling absolutely nothing, Liu Sanye lied with a straight face: “Ah! It hurts a little. I feel like my blood vessels are going to explode!”

Chu Danxue immediately withdrew her hand.